SALT LAKE CITY — The day after announcing changes to Senate leadership while Senate Majority Leader Ralph Okerlund undergoes evaluation for heart and kidney transplant surgery, Senate leaders said Friday they view the shifts as temporary and look forward to Okerlund's healthy return.

"We're not concerned about how things are shuffled up here. Our concerns are with him, his health and that he gets back here at full strength," said Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy.

Van Tassell said he's not switching desks, and he's not planning to move into Okerlund's office. It made the most sense for him to fill in as majority leader because he does not plan to seek re-election.